RESTAURANT chain KFC is a step closer to building its new drive-thru on the edge of Colchester.

Last year, councillors threw out the bid for land at Ipswich Road, amid concerns it was too close to an historic cottage and a Premier Inn hotel.

This was despite planners at Tendring Council recommending it should be approved.

KFC appealed against the decision to refuse permission and in March an inspector ruled in its favour.

The fast food giant has spent more than five years – and two planning applications – battling to get the drive-thru given the green light.

Now applications which are a precursor to building work beginning have been submitted to the council.

KFC has also reapplied for signs for the new restaurant due to a “recent corporate rebranding”.

Gazette:

No date for when works will begin has been revealed but the applications show work is expected to take about 18 weeks.

Workmen will be on site from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

No work will be carried out on Sundays or bank holidays.

Deliveries of building equipment will be “timed so as to minimise disruption during peak traffic times”. Temporary lights will be needed to carry out the building work but KFC said it would be positioned to keep light pollution to nearby homes to a minimum.

Wheel cleaning and road sweeping will be carried out in a bid to prevent mud and dirt being carried on to Ipswich Road.

Plans for the scheme previously went “undetermined” by Tendring Council in 2013 and were subsequently thrown out by an inspector.

The most recent application was rejected because the

council said hotel customers and a nearby homeowner would be adversely affected by cars using the drive-thru order system.

But the planning inspector found the noise levels from the planned restaurant would be below existing noise

levels from traffic on Ipswich Road.

KFC says the drive-thru will create about 45 jobs.